…Suggest alternate way to register grievances
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
As reactions trail the planned nationwide protest against hardship, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi; and Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, have expressed fears that the protest might be hijacked by unpatriotic fellows.
They therefore, called for caution on the part of the organisers while urging the Federal Government to engage them on genuine dialogue.
The duo who spoke in Abia after a breakfast meeting at the Governor’s house, also called on security agencies to ensure that the protesters comport themselves within the boundaries of the law.
They agreed that Nigeria’s Constitution guaranteed peaceful protests but stressed that it must be done within the ambit of the law.
Otti said: “Protests are allowed once they are done within the ambits of the law. But the real challenge is who can ensure or assure us that it will be done within the ambits of the law. We have seen protests hijacked. My fears are that this one will also be hijacked.
“Even when you write a letter it is a protest. You can sit down and write a letter of protest, you can call somebody and register your displeasure about what he is doing or how he is running government. They are all protests and allowed. But when you now go outside the law and begin to unleash mayhem and violence that is where it is not acceptable.
“First of all, for you to organise protest, the law requires that you inform and get the approval of the security agencies, particularly the police. Somebody should take responsibility for getting that approval. So, if you don’t have the approval, then it will be against the law for you to go out on the streets to protest.”
Speaking further, Governor Otti explained that those not involved in the protest are also entitled to their freedom as it will be against the law to deny them that.
“Secondly everyone has a right of free movement. So, if you block the road and you stop people from moving around, then, you have broken the law. So, there are several parts to it that may not be under the control of whoever that is calling for the protest.”
“My attitude to it is, yes, we’ve heard what you are saying and it will be very, very unfair to say that things are not difficult now. Things are very difficult. Hunger is real and that is true. But how do you solve the problem?”
“The problem we found ourselves in the country is economic and will I say that we are actually paying the price for bad governance that didn’t start today. And, if you sat down and printed almost 24 trillion naira that is not backed by any productivity, then someday, somehow, like now, you will pay for it because if you understand how the economy works, when you have so much cash chasing a certain basket of goods, that would not increase the goods because you have more cash but prices will go up.”
“So, there are very, very few options left than this difficulty that we are going through. If we are patient and go through it, then after that, I believe the economy will reverse and things will begin to look better.”
Governor Otti emphasised the need for Nigeria to transit into a productive economy and import less of what we consume, warning that what is happening to our naira will be a child’s play if we continue to consume imported products. He also explained that transiting to a productive economy cannot be achieved overnight.
Similarly Peter Obi blamed the protest on the biting economic hardship in the country but advised against anarchy.
According to him, the planned protest is caused by hunger and hopelessness among Nigerians.
“On the issue of protest, within the Nigerian constitutions, protest is allowed. All I plead for is for those who are protesting to do so within the law and in civil manner that allows us as a nation to show that we live within the law.”
“Everybody knows that things are difficult and I always say that when they talk about the sponsors of protest, the sponsors are very simple, it is hunger, it is hopelessness among the youths. So, we all have to listen to what Nigerians are going through and I thank our Governor for doing so. It is critical and important,” Mr. Obi asserted.
Mr. Obi called on the security agencies to ensure that they manage the protests within the law and advised the government to engage with the protesters and dialogue with them towards addressing the reasons for the protests.
“What I have to say to the security agencies is to ensure that they manage the situation, again within the law. We should not try to be overbearing. It should be something that we do within the law.
“Protest is allowed everywhere globally. And, I also say that people protest in my house and it is for us to listen to those who are protesting and why they are protesting and engage them. That is what governance is all about, you talk with them, there is nothing wrong in that.
“I was Governor for years and people protested and we kept dialoguing and deliberating about it.”
Governor Otti thanked Obi for the visit and encouragements, saying that it means a whole lot to him.
He also thanked him for his sacrifices for the common people in Nigeria. The Governor called on Abians to shun the protests, saying that it may yield unpleasant outcome.
“For people in Abia, my advice is that people should not pour out on the streets because it may be more hurtful than the reason for the protests that people are calling for,” Governor Otti stated.
